External corner member

ABSTRACT

An external corner member of the type suitable for use in attaching to perpendicularly spaced prefabricated wall panels is provided with a central run at the opposite ends of which extend, in the order recited and each at a 45* to an adjacent run to which it connects, a long run, an inner run, a connecting run, a short run, and an abutment run. Fastening means join portions of the wall panels to the external corner member.

United States Patent Lowery [451 Sept. 19, 1972 [54] EXTERNAL CORNER MEMBER 1,959,880 5/1934 Sims ..52/281 X [72] Inventor: William E. Lowery, Orinda, Calif.

Primary ExaminerFrank L. Abbott Asslgnee! Comm Building systems Assistant Examiner-Carl Friedman 22] il April 30 97 Attorney-Robert Charles Hill [21] App]. No.: 139,056 57 ABSTRACT An external comer member of the type suitable for (g1. ..52/282, 52/41556 use in attaching to perpendicularly Spaced p f b i d p l i p id d a t l [58] Field of Search 2/ 25 run at the opposite ends of which extend, in the order I p 732 recited and each at a 45 to an adjacent run to which it connects, a long run, an inner run, a connecting run, [56] References Cited a short run, and an abutment run. Fastening means UNITED STATES PATENTS join portions of the wall panels to the external corner b 1,548,083 8/1925 Young et a1. ..52/282 x mm er 1,893,713 1/1933 Murnane ..52/282 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 19 I912 3.691; 71 1 FIG. 3

INVENTOR. WILLIAM E. LOWERY ATTORNEY EXTERNAL CORNER MEMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION An external comer member fastens to perpendicularly spaced wall panels to form a corner joint. The corner member also possesses sufficient structural strength to withstand the pressure of urethane foam as it is applied in the field to completely seal the corner oint.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Prefabricated wall panels manufactured with metal faces and a urethane foam core are finding more and more acceptance in the construction industry of today. These insulated wall panels are permanent and durable, economical, easily installed and connected together on the job site, and also to withstand thermal stresses. These panels also meet rigid'structural requirements.

One major problem encountered with the above described panels is that conventional sealing methods such as gaskets, caulking, or the like, do not produce a monolithic barrier to heat and/or moisture transfer between panels at the corner of a structure.

Applicant has overcome the above problem by providing an external corner member which fastens to perpendicularly spaced wall panels and which possesses sufficient structural strength to withstand the pressure of urethane foam as it is applied in the field by means of portable foam dispensing equipment to completely seal the comer joint.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved external corner member.

Another object is to provide an external comer member which blends in with the aesthetic appearance of the particular building.

A further object of the invention is to provide structure of the character described which is economical to produce and long lasting in usage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a building illustrating the external corner member of the present invention installed therein.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the external comer member.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the external comer member shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view illustrating the external corner member fastened to perpendicularly spaced wall panels.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, there is shown the external corner member of this invention, generally indicated 10, which is adaptable for use on prefabricated building structures such as warehouses, classrooms, manufacturing facilities, low temperature buildings and the like. The external corner member has a central run 12 and long runs 14 extending inwardly at a 45 from each end of the central run 12. Inner runs 16 extend at a 45 from the inner side of each of the long runs 14 near the middle thereof. Connecting runs 18 extend at a 45 from each of the inner runs 16 and parallel to the closest long run 14, that is,

runs 14 and 18 on the right side of the member 10 are parallel to each other as are runs 14 and 18 on the left side of member 10. Short runs 20 extend at a 45 from the end of each connecting run 18 and parallel to the central run 12. Terminating or abutment runs 22 extend at a 45 from the end of each short run 20 and parallel to the closest connecting run 18.

There are other relationships which are of interest in the external corner member 10. Thus, it can also be seen that the long runs 14 extend beyond thebeginning of the closest short run 20. Also, each abutment run 22 is between or intermediate the closest long run 14 and connecting run 18 and parallel to them. In addition, each long run 14 is tapered at its end as at 24.

The external corner members 10 are preferably extruded. They may be formed of aluminum or other metal, or of rigid plastic, such as rigid polyvinyl chloride or the like.

A typical installation for the external corner member of the present invention is shown in FIG. 4 wherein prefabricated wall panels 26 manufactured with metal faces 28 and a urethane foam core 30 and joined together by an interlocking seam arrangement (not shown) to form a continuously joined structural wall system come together to form a comer. Attached to the wall panels 26 as they near the building corner are end portions 32 and 34 which are in close.perpendicular spaced relationship to receive the external corner member 10. As seen in FIG. 4, the end portion of each wall panel 26 is in adjacent relationship with the outer side of abutment run 22 and the inner side of long run 14. Fastening means such as screws or rivets 36 join the end portions 32 and 34 to the corner member 10.

Sealant 38 in the pocket between the end portion and the corner member and urethane foam 40 both are applied in the field to fill all voids to produce a monolithic barrier to heat and/or moisture transfer between panels at the corner.

FIG. 1 shows a typical building 42 such as a warehouse having the external corner member 10 of the present invention installed therein and running the entire height of the structure thereby producing the monolithic barrier described above as well as a pleasing appearance.

I claim:

1. An external corner member of the type suitable for use in attaching to perpendicularly spaced prefabricated wall panels, comprising:

a. a central run;

b. long runs extending inwardly at a 45 from each end of said central run;

c. an inner run extending at a 45 from the inner side of each of said long runs;

d. a connecting run extending at a 45 from the end of each inner run and parallel to the closest said long run;

e. a short run extending at a 45 from the end of each connecting run and parallel to said central run; and

f. an abutment run extending at a 45 from the end of each short run and parallel to the closest said connecting run.

2. The external comer member of claim 1 wherein said inner runs extend from near the middle of the long runs.

3 4 3. The external corner member of claim 1 wherein panels and having a central run at the opposite each abutment run 1s intermediate and parallel to said nds of which extend, in the order recited and :8 and salifonnecnng each at a 45 to an adjacent run to which it con- Fxiem member of claim h nects, a long run, an inner run, a connecting run, a each of said long runs extends beyond the beginning of short run and an abutment the closest said short run. I

c. the end portion of each wall panel in adjacent relationship with an abutment run and a long run; and d. fastening means joining said end portion with said 10 corner member.

5. In combination, a. two wall panels having end portions attached gig-gem in a close perpendicularspaced relationb. an extemal corner member between said wall 

1. An external corner member of the type suitable for use in attaching to perpendicularly spaced prefabricated wall panels, comprising: a. a central run; b. long runs extending inwardly at a 45* from each end of said central run; c. an inner run extending at a 45* from the inner side of each of said long runs; d. a connecting run extending at a 45* from the end of each inner run and parallel to the closest said long run; e. a short run extending at a 45* from the end of each connecting run and parallel to said central run; and f. an abutment run extending at a 45* from the end of each short run and parallel to the closest said connecting run.
 2. The external corner member of claim 1 wherein said inner runs extend from near the middle of the long runs.
 3. The external corner member of claim 1 wherein each abutment run is intermediate and parallel to said long run and said connecting run.
 4. The external corner member of claim 1 wherein each of said long runs extends beyond the beginning of the closest said short run.
 5. In combination, a. two wall panels having end portions attached thereto in a close perpendicular spaced relationship; b. an external corner member between said wall panels and having a central run at the opposite ends of which extend, in the order recited and each at a 45* to an adjacent run to which it connects, a long run, an inner run, a connecting run, a short run, and an abutment run; c. the end portion of each wall panel in adjacent relationship with an abutment run and a long run; and d. fastening means joining said end portion with said corner member. 